Article 245 — Execution of Judgment and Automatic Appeal Review
Texte légal (original thaï)
ภายใต้บังคับแห่งมาตรา ๒๔๖, ๒๔๗ และ ๒๔๘ เมื่อคดีถึงที่สุดแล้ว ให้บังคับคดีโดยไม่ชักช้าศาลชั้นต้นมีหน้าที่ต้องส่งสำนวนคดีที่พิพากษาให้ลงโทษประหารชีวิตหรือจำคุกตลอดชีวิต
ไปยังศาลอุทธรณ์ในเมื่อไม่มีการอุทธรณ์คำพิพากษานั้น
และคำพิพากษาเช่นว่านี้จะยังไม่ถึงที่สุด เว้นแต่ศาลอุทธรณ์จะได้พิพากษายืน
traduction anglaise
Subject to Sections 246, 247, and 248, when a case has become final, the judgment shall be executed without delay. The court of first instance has a duty to send the file of a case in which it has adjudged a penalty of death or imprisonment for life to the Court of Appeal where there is no appeal against that judgment; and such a judgment shall not yet become final unless the Court of Appeal has affirmed it.
Cette traduction anglaise est fournie à titre indicatif uniquement et n'a pas encore été vérifiée de manière définitive ; référez-vous toujours à l'original thaï.
Annotation de l'entreprise
Section 245 opens Book 6, Chapter 1 on execution of judgment. Paragraph one states the general rule that a final judgment must be executed without delay, subject to the exceptions in Sections 246 to 248. Paragraph two contains a vital safeguard for the most severe sentences: where the court of first instance imposes death or life imprisonment and no appeal is lodged, the case file must automatically be sent to the Court of Appeal for review, and the judgment does not become final unless the Court of Appeal affirms it. This automatic review means the Court of Appeal must examine whether the defendant is guilty even where the defendant only appealed on sentence or did not appeal at all, ensuring capital and life sentences are never left unexamined by a higher court.
Pourquoi cela est important en pratique
If you or a family member is sentenced to death or life imprisonment, take comfort that the law forces a higher-court review even if no appeal is filed: the sentence cannot become final until the Court of Appeal affirms it. Note the flip side confirmed by the courts, the Court of Appeal reviews guilt as well as sentence under this automatic mechanism, so its examination is not limited to the points raised. Because these are the gravest outcomes in criminal law, expert representation is essential; understand the process in Ce qu'il faut savoir avant de se présenter devant un tribunal en Thaïlande.
Décisions de la Cour suprême interprétant cette section
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 7422/2568 (2025)
Where the court of first instance imposes life imprisonment and neither party appeals, the court must send the file to the Court of Appeal under Section 245 paragraph two for review before the judgment can become final.
The court of first instance sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment in a narcotics case, and neither the prosecution nor the defendant appealed. The court of first instance accordingly sent the file to the Court of Appeal under Section 245 paragraph two (read with the Narcotics Cases Procedure Act), which then reviewed and varied the judgment.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 3270/2568 (2025)
Where a life sentence is imposed and the defendant appeals only for a lighter penalty, the Court of Appeal's finding that the defendant committed the offence is made under its Section 245 paragraph two power, not because of the appeal; once affirmed, the guilt finding becomes final and the defendant cannot raise it on further appeal.
The defendant, sentenced to life imprisonment, appealed only for a lighter penalty. The Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal's finding that he committed the offence was made under its automatic-review power in Section 245 paragraph two, not because of his appeal; once the Court of Appeal affirmed, the guilt finding became final and the defendant could not challenge it on further appeal.
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Supreme Court Judgment No. 2585/2568 (2025)
Because Section 245 paragraph two provides that a life sentence is not final unless the Court of Appeal affirms it, the Court of Appeal must first determine whether the defendant committed the offence even where he appealed only on the severity of the penalty.
The court of first instance sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment for joint murder, and he appealed only for a lighter sentence. The Supreme Court noted that under Section 245 paragraph two such a judgment is not final unless the Court of Appeal affirms it, so the Court of Appeal was bound to first decide whether he committed the offence, notwithstanding the limited grounds of his appeal.
Décisions sélectionnées avec numéros de dossier vérifiés dans la base de données de la Cour suprême. Les versions anglaises sont des traductions éditoriales réalisées par le cabinet à des fins d'étude.
Foire aux questions
Is a death or life sentence automatically reviewed in Thailand?
Yes. Under Section 245 paragraph two, when the court of first instance imposes death or life imprisonment and there is no appeal, the file must be sent to the Court of Appeal, and the judgment is not final unless the Court of Appeal affirms it.
Does the Court of Appeal review guilt or only the sentence?
Under Section 245 paragraph two, the Court of Appeal reviews whether the defendant is guilty as well as the sentence, even if the defendant appealed only on sentence or did not appeal at all.
When must a criminal judgment be enforced in Thailand?
Under Section 245 paragraph one, once a case has become final the judgment must be executed without delay, subject to the exceptions in Sections 246, 247, and 248.